Christmas with the Family

Here are some random pictures of our family gatherings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

For Christmas Eve lunch, we gathered at my mom's for ham and potatoes and gifts for the grandchildren. Here are the host and hostess with their youngest grandbaby.

"Take my picture, Aunt Linda!"
Aunt Linda sure is popular. Or maybe it's just a big chair that looks inviting.
Sister and her husband and youngest.
Me and my Daddy
My brother and sister... they look like twins, don't you think?
Rachel, Melisssa and Aunt Linda
Here we are on Chrismtas Eve night. Abby was supposed to be sleeping in her cousin's room while we opened gifts with the grown-ups, but she was having none of it.
And no, I am not sharing what I got in that gift exchange because some things are ancient family secrets that can't be shared on the internet!!

On Christmas Day, we gathered again at my sister's for the big dinner. Here are the children patiently waiting for their kosher ham (also known as lamb).
Here is the "big peoples table."
My brother and his lovely wife.
She looks a little less than thrilled to be here. Too much excitement over the past few days, perhaps?

Writing Christmas Cards

Abby decided one day last week that she wanted to make Christmas cards. So she traced out a square on pieces of paper and then cut them out. She asked me to spell "Merry Christmas" for her and away she went.

A little juice break.
Mommy, stop taking my picture!
Hey! That camera is still there!
Writing out "Christmas" is hard work. It's so long!
The results of all her hard work!

Christmas with Abby

Abby's last Christmas as an only child.
Coming down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Pretty new Princess nightgown.
New play shoes.
Pretty as a Princess.
Reading her new book.
The aftermath.

Disney on Ice

Last week, my sister, Rachel suggested that we take Abby and Andrew to see Disney on Ice in Cleveland. What a great idea!! So we bought tickets for Friday night.

Ironically, late Thursday and early Friday, we had an ice storm come through. The schools were canceled and everything was at a standstill. Cleveland was on ice! I was determined to get to Cleveland that night, if I had to hitch a ride with a snow plow.

Turns out, the roads thawed out and were just wet. We made it to the show in time to see the Disney Princess Dresses on display. They were beautiful. Cinderella, herself, even made an appearance.

We had pretty good seats. Here are Andrew and Abby getting ready to see the show.

The Host and Hostess of the show were, of course, Mikey and Minnie Mouse. Daffy Duck and Goofy also made appearances.
Then after Mickey's car broke down on the ice, here came Mater to the resuce.
And Lightning McQueen
Next up was The Little Mermaid. They did an abridged storyline with all the main characters. Throughout the whole show, the costumes were beautiful and the skaters were amazing.
Then came the Lion King with Rafiki narrating the story. All the original voices are played as well.
Timone and Pumba meet Simba.

After the Lion King segment, I was commenting to the lady next to me about the costumes (they were amazing!!). She remarked that the story was much like the movie and that they must have got it from the movie. I said, "Yes. It's Disney." It was pretty funny that she hadn't put the two together.

After intermission, they introduced, for the first time live, TinkerBell and Pixie Hollow.

The butterflies and flowers of springtime.

I guess I was most impressed with the costumes and sets. I tried to get good pictures, but they wouldn't stand still. Imagine! If you want to see them, go to the Disney on Ice website. We saw the Worlds of Fantasy show.

This CD is now on my Christmas Wish List!

Have You Ever?

I'm playing along with Rachel's list. The things I've done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Want to play along? Copy and paste and leave me a comment so I know you did.